MLK Day 2019: Events to celebrate Dr. King's legacy across Mass.

For decades, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy has been remembered by hundreds of thousands across the globe on this day.

This year, despite frigid temperatures and icy roads, celebrations and events honoring Dr. King will still be held in Mass. Museums and national parks will be open and many are offering free admissions all day in honor of a man who dedicated his life to serving others.

The civil rights activist, who fought so diligently so others could have a voice, would have turned 90 last week.

A Boston University alumnus who graduated with a PhD in Systematic Theology back in 1955, Dr. King came back to Boston in 1965 to lead a civil rights march at Boston Common.

During his time at the univeristy, Dr. King lectured at the 13th Baptist Church in Roxbury and met his wife, Coretta Scott King.

Among the many events scheduled to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy, Boston 25 News has proudly partnered with the Boston Cares Annual MLK Day of Service.

Boston 25 Anchors Daniel Miller and Vanessa Welch are kicking off the program and joining more than 600 volunteers in creating educational tools to assist more than 1,100 immigrants with learning English and preparing for the citizenship test.

Volunteers will also help building beds for children who do not have one as part of the Boston Cares Bed Project.

The event will take place at the Boston Latin School at 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur in Boston from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other events held on MLK Day in Boston include:

Boston: Boston University, along with the City of Boston will be hosting a commemoration in partnership with the Museum of African American History at 1 p.m. at the Metcalf Hall, George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave. U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley will be a speaker at the event where the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra's Intensive Community Program and Boston University Inner Strength Gospel Choir will perform.

Belmont: the Belmont Human Rights Commission and Belmont Against Racism are hosting the town's 25th MLK "Community Breakfast". The event will include a keynote speaker as well as music and activities for children and starts at 8:45 a.m. at Belmont High School, 221 Concord Ave.

Dedham: The town's second MLK Jr. "Holiday Celebration" will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Dedham Middle School, 70 Whiting Ave. Rahsaan Hall. Sponsored by the Dedham Human Rights Commission, the event last year gathered about 500 people. This year, as town officials hope for at least that many to attend, a lawyer, minister and director of the Racial Justic Program of the ACLU of Massachusetts is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. Celebrations will also include performances, readings, a volunteer fair and refreshments. More information can be found here.

Gloucester: The city's third MLK Day celebration will be hosted by the Meetinghouse Foundation and will include presentations about African-American history, live music, discussions, and audio and slide shows. The free event will take place at 1806 Meetinghouse (home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church) at Middle and Church streets from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, you can visit the foundation's website here.

Somerville: The city's annual MLK Day celebration will happen at the East Somerville Community School at 50 Cross Street starting at 10 a.m. Featuring musical performances by El Sistema Somerville and the Somerville High School World Percussion Ensemble, the event will also feature readings by student essay contest winners and a keynote address by Aba Taylor, a social justice educator and organizer. Bring new or gently used winter coats for school-aged children if you can contribute to the Somerville Human Rights Commission winter clothing drive. More info can be found here.

Waltham: Brandeis University will host their ninth annual MLK "Interfaith Day of Service" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature guest speaker Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition and will include  packing meals for the homeless and participating in social justice discussions with Brandeis clubs and local nonprofits. The event will take place at the Levin Ballroom & Usdan Student Center, 415 South St. More info can be found here. 

Cox Media Group